Published: July 03, 2008 10:14 pm            

SomerSplash patrons treated after accident

Somerset — A small number of individuals were transported to the hospital Thursday after they were likely exposed to an acidic substance common to pools while at the SomerSplash water park.

Four children and an adult were affected by the late afternoon incident, where several people were stricken with respiratory difficulties while using the “lazy river” attraction.

Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler said he was called to the scene at 4 p.m., shortly after the problem occurred. He said “three or four people” complained of having difficulty breathing.

“I personally walked all the way around the lazy river checking for any type of odors or contaminants,” said Girdler. “We had to notify state officials (and) we’re going through an extensive process to make sure if anything occurred that we need to correct or take a look at it.”

Nevertheless, “all facilities seem to be in excellent shape,” said the mayor.

Initial reports suggested the cause of the problem might have been a busted chlorine pipe, but park manager Stephen Sims insisted that wasn’t the case.

“The accident had nothing to do with chlorine,” said Sims. “The health department tested the water (Wednesday) and it was perfect. ... We tested it after the accident and it was perfect.”

Sims speculates that an air pocket backed up in a hose and a concentration of muriatic acid was released into the pool area of the lazy river, just below the tube slide. Muratic, or hydrochloric, acid is a common pool chemical used to lower pH levels and is considered to be highly corrosive.

“It has to release somewhere, and it happened to release through the intake system of the lazy river as several patrons were in the area,” said Sims. “Basically, muriatic acid can cause some minor respiratory problems.

“We deal with it every day and it’s tough to breathe that stuff,” he added. “It wasn’t serious, but I’m sure the patrons who were affected were scared.”

Sims said he contacted Poison Control, which stated that there shouldn’t be any major or long-lasting consequences to this type of exposure to the acid.

Sims added that the patrons were treated at the ER and were “fine.”

“Had it happened when no one was in that area, we never would have known the chemical was released,” he said. “It’s an isolated incident that could happen at any water park in the world, but it’s a freak accident.”

Immediately following the incident, the lazy river was closed down for safety precautions. Sims was hopeful the lazy river would be open sometime today. He was trying to get ahold of health department personnel last night so they could test the water as early as possible.

“Our number one priority is the safety of the people at the water park,” said Girdler, who noted that the matter was reported to the proper state authorities which handle all such incidents occurring at theme parks and similar venues.

        

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